The World’s 5 Most Polluted Countries

When people around the world celebrate the growth of new burgeoning economies, they tend to forget the downside that can accompany the expansions and growth – pollution. When an economy develops too fast and infrastructure can’t or won’t keep up, the result is typically lots of air pollution and a country you that no corporate event planners in their right mind would plan a corporate event at. Some countries are obviously worse than others. But there are five countries that you should stay away from. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a list of the world’s most dangerous countries based on the amount of PM10 particles. PM10 particles of 10 micrometers or less that cause illnesses. According to the WHO, PM10 levels above 20 micrograms per cubic meter can cause health risks. The five most polluted countries contain at least fourteen times above that. Without further ado, these are the world five most polluted countries:

Mongolia – 279 PM10 per square meter – It gets cold exceedingly cold here in the winter and the cold season lasts for eight months out of the year here. This leads to the residents burning anything and everything they can get their hands on to keep warm. That anything and everything includes tires, coal, tar-dipped bricks. Combined with rapid urbanization and poor planning, expect a very smoggy trip if you plan your next event here.

Botswana – 216 PM10 per square meter – Botswana used to be one of the poorest nations in Africa. Today, it’s one of the world’s fastest growing economies because it is also the largest producer of diamonds. According to The World Bank, mineral revenues account for about 40 percent of Botswana’s government revenues. This widespread development has led to huge amounts of environmental damage, as well as horrible air quality.

Pakistan – 198 PM10 per square meter – The lack of political stability, corruption in places typically would reign in pollution and over crowding of old, high emission producing cars have led to a country that’s almost perpetually covered in smog. Stay far away from this country unless you want to give your participants lung cancer.

Senegal – 145 PM10 per square meters – 85% of the cars that make up Senegal’s automotive population are 10-15 years old. These cars have severely outdated emissions standards and produce twice the Co2 that cars in America do. Combine that with rapid, economic expansion and poor urban planning an you have a country that should fog itself off of your radar.

Saudi Arabia – 143 PM10 per square meter – No surprise here. The country that produces the most oil is one of the most polluted countries in the world? Mass growth and oil production have led to desalination of seawater, oil and chemical plumes, and nearly unbreathable air. Use your oil to take your event somewhere else.

Call Travel Solutions at 1-866-567-7431 so we can ensure that your next meeting takes place in a destination that has crisp, clean, beautifully breathable air.